Des Arc's homecoming

[RiverEagle079]

I seen on Facebook today that Des Arc will play EPC for homecoming on week 6 instead of September 15.  Coaches reason was because EPC had a guarantee that EPC would field a team instead of Augusta and Brinkley.  I think it is crazy that we have to venture out of conference to find a homecoming matchup. The 6 2A world has gone soft!!

[Pick_DA_EAGLES]

It's not that it's "gone soft", it's because they don't have the numbers. Augusta has 13 and Brinkley had 8 show up to practice the other day.

[dawgpound]

Dang I hate to hear that.  What can be done to get these kids more interested in high school football?

[Dayton Kitchens]

Dang I hate to hear that.  What can be done to get these kids more interested in high school football?

Turn back time.

[Ventman]

Turn back time.

I think it's only going to get worse. I hope I'm wrong.

[dawgpound]

Are some getting burnt out from peewee football starting in the 3rd grade, or just lazy kids and parents that don't want to do anything

[Pick_DA_EAGLES]

Are some getting burnt out from peewee football starting in the 3rd grade, or just lazy kids and parents that don't want to do anything

I think you maybe on to something with the burnt out part. We start ours in 1st grade. The more I think about it, the more I don't like it.

[baseball13]

Are some getting burnt out from peewee football starting in the 3rd grade, or just lazy kids and parents that don't want to do anything

My kids are not going to play football until they are in the 7th grade. You have coaches out there coaching that don't have the first clue about how to coach.

[RATTLER43]

It all depends on the kid.  We started both of ours (girls) in early elementary school for the sports they liked:  gymnastics, swimming, track, cross country, basketball, and softball. If they started a season they had to finish. But each year we gave them the option of doing it or something else. Some summers they would choose traveling, camping, hiking, etc. over sports; some summers not. Their choice. In 7th grade, it was the same but at that level, coaches begin to practice year round so they committed more of their time. Got down to Basketball, track, and cross country. One said no to any kind of AAU or travel ball to allow for much traveling/camping/hiking; the other played for two basketball travel teams in back to back years.  Neither experienced burnout. The second devoted summers to total workouts for track and cross country (is still doing so for Central Arkansas; still no burnout).  You have to let it be the kids' experience and not yours, while at the same time teaching them that a team is relying on them so if they choose yes it is a commitment.  With so many other "fun" and "easy" things to do, kids don't always choose the heat, humidity, hard work, and sacrifice involved in sports. It is just a reality.  I am one of the lucky parents whose kids loved it.  But, the lack of numbers is not all due to burnout. It is just one of many factors that play into lower numbers these days.   

(Yes; many volunteer coaches don't have the first clue about coaching but at least they volunteered).

[Pick_DA_EAGLES]

My kids are not going to play football until they are in the 7th grade. You have coaches out there coaching that don't have the first clue about how to coach.

Ours have done a good job of getting the kids ready for the 7th grade. Run stuff similar to what they will once they get to the next level. It's translating over to our sr high as well. Just look how consistent we have been. Most all those kids came through our peewee program.

[Lumberjackfan1978]

Are some getting burnt out from peewee football starting in the 3rd grade, or just lazy kids and parents that don't want to do anything

Ithink peewee football is good for the overall program especially when they try to start them to what the Jr and Senior high programs run.But you can't leave out the lazy part either

[Sonofasonofasailor]

Ours have done a good job of getting the kids ready for the 7th grade. Run stuff similar to what they will once they get to the next level. It's translating over to our sr high as well. Just look how consistent we have been. Mist all those kids came through our peewee program.

Teaching x's and o's isn't necessarily the issue but rather parents are concerned about the qualifications of volunteer coaches.  Many have minimal training with nothing to rely on other than their own high school experience.  Kids that age are obviously not physically developed but often subjected to the same practice drills as 16-18 year olds. It leads to injuries, which probably contributes to the burn out factor. Ever see the show Friday Night Tykes?  Those guys certainly never heard of Heads Up Football or other safety programs available today.  By waiting until kids are in jr. high/middle school, the coaches should be certified and trained, giving parents a  higher comfort level.     

[purpleswag]

With all the concern of prolonged exposer to sub maximal hits being talked about. I would think something needs to be done about starting in 1st grade. That is absolute poppy **.

What are they even learning at that age??

[Dayton Kitchens]

Worries about CTE I'm convinced are going to lead to legislation at all levels restricting the age that kids can begin playing full contact football.     Probably no younger than 15 which will be the end of full contact junior high teams and 7th grade programs and of course the Pee Wee (Pop Warner) football.

Mainly not due to concussion dangers but the belief now that "sub concussion" level impacts have a contributing effect to later brain problems.

[bigworm]

Are some getting burnt out from peewee football starting in the 3rd grade, or just lazy kids and parents that don't want to do anything

I cant believe im about to say this but i see it the same way. Kids start here in 1st grade. They may enjoy it a ton when they are little but then comes girls, phones, and trucks. So they have played tons of football. Its just not as fun as all the new things. I sometimes wish peewee sports didnt exist. Also, in most cases the coaches would rather teach them 50 plays rather than how to fundamentally block and tackle. Kids form terrible technique and the poor highschool coaches have the task of breaking that bad habit to form a corect one. But with all that being said, both my boys played from 1st grade on. Hahaha. One headed to college in a week and the other is sophomore.

[HG Hornet]

My son is a senior at CHG this year and started playing peewee in 3rd grade and never missed a game or practice.  As soon as football ended, Upward Basketball would start up and take us through December to February and then Little League Baseball during the Spring took us on into June.  Off July & August, then back at it again.  We did this for years and no burnout.

I'm gonna be honest here......Upward Basketball was fun, but he grew tired of it because it wasn't about trying to win.  He hated sitting on the bench.  He got stuck on some pretty bad baseball teams too and grew tired of losing near the end of the season.  Peewee football, though, was always fun for him and he cried at the end of each season.  It was all about winning, and win they did.  My son's Hornets went 33-3 in four seasons including a 4th grade undefeated Super Bowl Championship season.  His All Star Team went to Pine Bluff and won a Thanksgiving tournament where all the kids won gold rings.  Peewee football was a great experience for us.

If you look closely in this pic from 2011, you'll see some current CHG Hornets, Bearden Bears, Smackover Buckaroos, Camden Fairview Cardinals, El Dorado Wildcats, and Magnolia Panthers all together on one Peewee All Star Team. 

I think it's very simple for kids.  A winning mentality is contagious and if you are part of a good team, there's no burnout and more and more kids want to join that team bringing more options for success.  If you're not very successful, kids aren't going to put in the work only to go out and lose week after week.  You really can't blame them.

[bigworm]

I never said it wasnt fun. Even for my kids. Oldest son is headed to play college football this fall. But hes sold out to it. He loves it. Hes one of the few just like your kid. There are always some that just love it and cant get enough. Cant play a game with one kid though. Looks like on his team there were kids from 4 counties. Unfortunately unless you're hampton you cant do that in highchool. In small towns we all need every kid available.

[mtindian42]

It has nothing to do with being burnt out... the reason kids don't want to play anymore is there parents are not involved with there practices and games. I'm sure all of you guys above are different and you are involved... that's why your kids love playing the game... not all kids have that support so overtime they lose interest!

Getting a text from dad after practice is awesome sure but man I wish dad was here...

Some kids don't get anything from ether parent so when they look around and see the kids that have their parents involved it makes them feel abandoned by their own...so the embarrassment they feel causes them to quit!

If small towns want to keep kids involved the coaches are going to have to adjust their egos... cause the littlest thing can cause a kid to say see ya... best thing these coaches can do is get to know their kids likes and dislikes and treat all kids the same...the days of playing the rich kids over the poor are over...are football as we know it will Die!

[HG Hornet]

It has nothing to do with being burnt out... the reason kids don't want to play anymore is there parents are not involved with there practices and games. I'm sure all of you guys above are different and you are involved... that's why your kids love playing the game... not all kids have that support so overtime they lose interest!

Getting a text from dad after practice is awesome sure but man I wish dad was here...

Some kids don't get anything from ether parent so when they look around and see the kids that have their parents involved it makes them feel abandoned by their own...so the embarrassment they feel causes them to quit!

If small towns want to keep kids involved the coaches are going to have to adjust their egos... cause the littlest thing can cause a kid to say see ya... best thing these coaches can do is get to know their kids likes and dislikes and treat all kids the same...the days of playing the rich kids over the poor are over...are football as we know it will Die!

I agree 100%.  Parents have to be willing to put in time too....and not just in their kids' sports, but in their education too.  Kids need to know that someone is watching, waiting to praise them and give them applause or encouragement.

[mtindian42]

I agree 100%.  Parents have to be willing to put in time too....and not just in their kids' sports, but in their education too.  Kids need to know that someone is watching, waiting to praise them and give them applause or encouragement.

bingo!

[HG Hornet]

I never said it wasnt fun. Even for my kids. Oldest son is headed to play college football this fall. But hes sold out to it. He loves it. Hes one of the few just like your kid. There are always some that just love it and cant get enough. Cant play a game with one kid though. Looks like on his team there were kids from 4 counties. Unfortunately unless you're hampton you cant do that in highchool. In small towns we all need every kid available.

That picture is from my son's All Star Team that was put together after the regular peewee season.  That's not the regular team, but I know what you mean.  You are correct; some kids just eat it up and can't get enough and others lose interest if parents aren't committed to "being there" or also if the team happens to be unsuccessful. 

Congrats to your son for playing in college.  That's quite an accomplishment and I'm sure you're proud of him.  I'll also bet that you spent a lot of time when he was young out in the yard playing sports with him and probably didn't miss a game.  That's how I was and still am.  We're hoping for a chance to play college ball next year, but if it doesn't happen I'm OK with it if he is.  It's his body......I'm just the proud Papa.

[big E]

It's a little different situation in the Delta. The culture is different most of these kids grow up with the bare minimum. Some Parents can't afford to follow their kids. It isn't that bad in Jr. High but as soon as they hit that magic number guess what they start working.  Parents can't afford to buy them vehicle so they get a job and around here it's Farming  and other than there kids they ain't to concerned about little Timmy having summer workouts. The culture doesn't understand how it works. Heard a parent say when questioned about why her son wasn't making all his lifts that they don't allow him to just sit around the house he has to work. That sums up the problem in one sentence it's not the kids it's the culture. If you have kids to help pay the bill's maybe you shouldn't have kids. Let them be kid's.  They have the rest of their adult life to work. I'm not saying let them lay up in the house all summer. Absolutely nothing wrong with a little part time job. But if they are gonna play sports there is responsibities that go with that and you as a parent should make sure they tend to those responsibilities. It's called accountability.  If they start something then hold them to it. Life lessons can be learned at a young age if we just take the time to teach them.

[Pit Bull]

I think you maybe on to something with the burnt out part. We start ours in 1st grade. The more I think about it, the more I don't like it.

Like it or not, Pee Wee is the best way to teach the kids how to play this game safely early and I can definitely see the difference in our high school and Junior High  programs since we started Pee Wee ball...

[birddawg1986]

Declining enrollment in these small towns are the issue. No housing, No jobs so people have to move. You have seen Crawfordsville, Turrell, Hughes, Parkin, Luxora all close in the last 10-15 years when 20 years ago you really didn't want to draw any of theses schools in the playoffs in any sport. The next AAA cycle has Augusta at 87😳 that's really low and hard to try to field a football team. Hope Augusta survives it was always fun to go that way and see good football

[jbtiger73]

What's crazy is that I just found out that we have nearly 40 out for Jr high football. Haven't had that in a while. Was in Brinkley on yesterday when I found out. Hopefully they stick it out.

[Lions84]

Parents have gotten spooked over concussions an have raised soft X box kids!

[MomaLion]

Some kids don't get anything from ether parent so when they look around and see the kids that have their parents involved it makes them feel abandoned by their own...so the embarrassment they feel causes them to quit!

This is exactly why I'm involved in our programs.  Not all parents can or will be at these events, but I try my darndest to cheer for and support every kid out there...my kids weren't involved much in sports except cheerleading, but i'm at every event.

[MomaLion]

What's crazy is that I just found out that we have nearly 40 out for Jr high football. Haven't had that in a while. Was in Brinkley on yesterday when I found out. Hopefully they stick it out.

How's numbers looking for Sr High?  Is it really 8 

[HorseFeathers]

Parents have gotten spooked over concussions an have raised soft X box kids!

Cause CTE isn't real?

[jbtiger73]

That was just for weight lifting. Practice doesn't start until Monday

[Pick_DA_EAGLES]

Like it or not, Pee Wee is the best way to teach the kids how to play this game safely early and I can definitely see the difference in our high school and Junior High  programs since we started Pee Wee ball...

I meant the starting the 1st and 2nd grade kids in full pads. I think they should be playing flag football or something.

[Pit Bull]

Yea, definitely!

[old.dole]

Probably even 3rd and 4th geades

[big E]

I don't think they should start until the 4th grade maybe 5th the human body can only take so many beatings. Then one day you look up and your 43 like me with to quote my doctor a body if a 60 year old.

[bigworm]

I don't think they should start until the 4th grade maybe 5th the human body can only take so many beatings. Then one day you look up and your 43 like me with to quote my doctor a body if a 60 year old.

43!!!!? Crap i thought you were 60😂😂😂🤔  just kidn ole buddy.

[MomaLion]

Cause CTE isn't real?

Oh, it's very real, but studies show that the risk increases in college and pro football.  The number of proven high school instances are very low.  You also have to consider that this can only be proven on autopsy so there aren't many studies available.

[MomaLion]

That was just for weight lifting. Practice doesn't start until Monday

Ok, good....should be more lifting though.

[MomaLion]

I don't think they should start until the 4th grade maybe 5th the human body can only take so many beatings. Then one day you look up and your 43 like me with to quote my doctor a body if a 60 year old.

My daughter is 21 with the damaged body of a 60 year old...and has already been prediagnosed with probable CTE by her concussion specialist...never played football...cheerleaders don't wear pads.

[big E]

43!!!!? Crap i thought you were 60😂😂😂🤔  just kidn ole buddy.

Perfect case of if I thought I was gonna live this long I would have taken better care of myself. Lol

[Pit Bull]

Cause CTE isn't real?

What? It's very real...

[HorseFeathers]

What? It's very real...

Look at the post I quoted

[baseball13]

I never said it wasnt fun. Even for my kids. Oldest son is headed to play college football this fall. But hes sold out to it. He loves it. Hes one of the few just like your kid. There are always some that just love it and cant get enough. Cant play a game with one kid though. Looks like on his team there were kids from 4 counties. Unfortunately unless you're hampton you cant do that in highchool. In small towns we all need every kid available.

bigworm you really think Hampton is the only school in the state that got a few kids form another school to transfer and play with them? Come on man you are smarter than that.

[gooze55]

bigworm you really think Hampton is the only school in the state that got a few kids form another school to transfer and play with them? Come on man you are smarter than that.

WELL SAID

[bigworm]

bigworm you really think Hampton is the only school in the state that got a few kids form another school to transfer and play with them? Come on man you are smarter than that.

Heck naw. Just still bitter. Let me vent man. It will subside by mid september.

[gooze55]

does bald knob still have that DOMINIC HARP